DANVILLE, Ky. – The Centre football team put together its most complete performance of the season as the offense and defense turned in excellent efforts in a 35-16 victory over the Sewanee Tigers. The Colonels move to 4-1 on the year and 2-0 in the Southern Athletic Association while Sewanee falls to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
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Greer Stone and
Will McDaniel got the big gainers for the Colonels on the opening drive as they marched into Sewanee territory. A strike from
Nick Osterman to
Sam Murray put the ball on the Sewanee 2, and then Osterman punched it in on a quarterback sneak to put the Colonels on top 7-0.
- Late in the first quarter, an interception off a deflection gave Sewanee the ball on Centre's side of the field and the Tigers converted on a goal line plunge by Michael McGhee to tie the game at 7-7.
- The rest of the first period and almost all of the second period belonged to the defenses as both teams struggled to mount an offense and a battle for field position ensued.
- With less than three minutes to go before halftime, Centre got the ball back with a short field and pounced on the opportunity when Osterman found a wide open McDaniel on a deep ball for a 34-yard touchdown connection to give the Colonels a 14-7 lead.
- On the next offensive play,
Miles Smith picked off a pass to set the Colonels up at the Sewanee 17-yard line with 92 seconds to go. On third down, Osterman hit
Scotty Brown in the back of the end zone on a post and Centre took a 21-7 lead going into the break.
- The Tigers were the first team to get on the board in the second half as they got the ball deep in Centre territory on a muffed punt and kicked a 39-yard field goal to cut the Centre lead to 21-10.
- A long kickoff return set Centre up with another short field, and once again the Colonels took advantage. A short pass from Osterman to Stone converted a key third down to set up 1st & goal, and Osterman did the rest on his own as he kept the football on the read option for a five-yard touchdown dash.
- On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Tigers picked off a Centre pass and ran it back for a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Centre held onto a 28-16 lead.
- At the halfway point of the fourth period, the Colonels got the ball at midfield and the Centre running game took over. Four straight Centre runs got the Colonels into the red zone and then
Keaton Martin barreled 20 yards through the middle of the Sewanee defense to give Centre its fifth touchdown of the day.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre's defense was once again magnificent as they held the Tigers to just 92 total yards on 56 plays, good for less than two yards per play.
- Reigning SAA Defensive Player of the Week
Armon Wells had another great day of making plays all over the field. The senior from Louisville finished with 13 tackles, four tackles for loss and a strip sack with a fumble recovery.
- Wells and Smith are responsible for four turnovers over the last two games.
- The 35 points are the highest total by the Colonels thus far this season.
UP NEXT
Centre football will return to action on Oct. 15 as they host the always tough Berry Vikings on Homecoming Saturday.
